Warringah Council – sacked in 2003

Warringah Council, currently under control of a public administrator, was dismissed after claims of development fraud and conflicts of interest during 2002 and 2003 period. An independent Inquiry found that Warringah council, the most complained about council in NSW, was victim to three and a half years of “vicious and uncompromising infighting amongst councillors” along with significant community dissatisfaction.

The damning report found instances of corruption, conflicts of interest and inappropriate use of ratepayers money, as well as a belligerent attitude to residents with 188 complaints submitted against the council from May 2001- April 2002. The Government inquiry found the council to be divided and dysfunctional beyond repair.  This was the third time the Council has been sacked since 1967.

Related Internet Articles:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23288137-5013945,00.html

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200210/s708943.htm

Liverpool Council – sacked March 2004

Liverpool Council was sacked by Local Government Minister Tony Kelly in March 2004 over the council’s inability to solve Liverpool’s problems as well as its bungling of the $900 million Oasis development in Sydney's southwest. An Administrator was appointed just two weeks before ratepayers were due to go to the polls.  It is estimated that the council lost $30 million in ratepayers’ money.

The Oasis project – a deal between the council, Macquarie Bank and the Bulldogs Leagues Club - was stopped after it fell under scrutiny from the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) for financial mismanagement.

Related Internet Articles:

http://liverpool.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/i-wont-apologise/1255092.aspx

http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/nsw/content/2003/s1070651.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200406/s1137882.htm

Wollongong Council – sacked March 2008

Wollongong Council was sacked in March 2008 following a recommendation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on allegations of systemic corruption, bribery and the acceptance of gifts.

Council planner Beth Morgan admitted accepting gifts and having sexual relations with three developers who had submitted plans for several projects in the Wollongong area. Further allegations of bribery emerged when Ms. Morgan and developer Frank Vellar were bribed several hundred thousand dollars by two criminals posing as ICAC investigators.

See Wollongong Council donations case study.

Related Internet Articles:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/wollongong-council-sacked/2008/03/04/1204402420020.html

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/breaking-news-sex-cash-for-rewriting-record-icac-told/285284.aspx

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council – sacked February 2008

The NSW Minister for Local Government, Paul Lynch sacked Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and called in Administrators in February 2008 on the recommendation of Public Inquiry Commissioner, Frank Willan who labelling the council “incompetent” for its handling of the Port Macquarie Cultural and Entertainment Centre.  The Council’s actions risked pushing it to bankruptcy.

The council has been accused of misleading the public as it continued with the building project – also known as the Glasshouse – despite costs blowing out by 7 times, to $34 million. Inspectors from the Local Government Department said the bill would top $66 million when interest repayments were factored in to the cost.

The Commissioner’s report is available at:

www.dlg.nsw.gov.au

Related Internet Articles:

http://www.portnews.com.au/news/local/news/general/council-sacked/466421.aspx

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/27/2174137.htm?section=australia

Tweed Council – sacked May 2005

The NSW Minister for Local Government, Tony Kelly, acted on a Public Inquiry Report by Professor Maurice Daly to dismiss the Tweed Shire Council on the NSW North Coast in May 2005. The report, which concentrated on the election of the majority of the councillors, concluded they were pawns of a developer-controlled group, Tweed Directions. The Inquiry found that the candidates presented themselves as independents without affiliations; however, they were in fact chosen and backed by the developer group, Tweed Directions.

The Local Government Minister, Tony Kelly, said the councillors had “effectively…lied to the community,” with their actions described to have corrupted the democratic process. Further allegations of corruption and election funding irregularities found that up to $633,000 was provided in a slush fund for the election campaigns of candidates associated with the development group, Tweed Directions. The report found large discrepancies in Tweed Directions’ electoral funding declarations. Additional instances of significant breaches of planning laws were also referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).  The Council is being run by three Administrators.

See Tweed Council donations case study.

Related Internet Articles:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200505/s1376573.htm

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Council-axed-over-dirty-election-tactics/2005/05/25/1116950760731.html

Shellharbour Council – sacked July 2008

THE NSW Government sacked Shellharbour City Council on the grounds of constant infighting and incompetence among Councillors.  The Council was replaced by Administrators until 2012.

The inquiry found severe shortcomings in the Council’s compliance with code of conduct committee, however there were no findings of corruption. The Council’s committee had been disbanded in 2007 leading to a build up of complaints and Councillors were found to have failed the requirements of their role and responsibilities.  Frequent incidents of disorder amongst councillors – one such case involving a Councillor asking another Councillor outside to settle an argument - had also contributed to the “irretrievable damage” of the Council and its community reputation.

Related Internet Articles:

 http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,,23996252-5006009,00.html

http://www.governmentnews.com.au/2008/07/10/article/DZVIZZNXUG.html